Man who set fire to a factory with workers locked inside is arrested in Dubai

A man wanted by police for  locking 259 workers inside his chemical factory and then setting it on fire has been arrested in Dubai.

The Asian businessman set the factory alight in 2012 in his home country and fled shortly afterwards.

He was sentenced to death in his absence by his country’s court, Dubai Police said.

“A red notice was issued against him by the Interpol 10 days ago,” said Col Saeed Al Qamzi, deputy director of the Wanted Department at Dubai Police.

A special unit was formed to locate the fugitive who was discovered to have entered the UAE using someone else’s passport. He was identified using his photo, Col Al Qamzi said.

Upon his arrest, the businessman admitted to his crime and was handed over to authorities in his home country.

The businessman was one of 25 other fugitives arrested in the emirate during the first three months of the year. All of them were extradited to their home countries, said Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant to the Dubai Police chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs.

“The Department of Wanted People at Dubai Police works closely with the Interpol and follows up red notices to hunt international fugitives,” he said.

Some 12 fugitives were extradited from the UAE with the help of Dubai Police last year.